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Stanton denies all allegations

Stanton denies all allegations

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By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Reliever Mike Stanton flatly denied on Thursday night all allegations made by a former Mets clubhouse attendant that he purchased human growth hormones, as reported in the Mitchell Report on Thursday.

Stanton was the lone active Reds player named in former Sen. George Mitchell's report to Major League Baseball about performance-enhancing drugs. His name was among several provided by Kirk Radomski, who pleaded guilty in April to federal charges of distributing steroids and money laundering after reaching a plea agreement with the government.

"I've done absolutely nothing wrong," Stanton told MLB.com in a statement by phone on Thursday night. "I've never met Radomski and couldn't even pick him out of a lineup. The reports are outrageous and unfair."

Radomski was a central figure in Mitchell's investigation, with his name covering 84 of the 311 pages. A total of 64 of the 89 players named in the Report came from Radomski's testimony -- many of them current and former Yankees and Mets.

A 19-year big league veteran with nine clubs, Stanton pitched for the Yankees from 1997 to 2001 and in 2005, and the Mets from 2003-'04.

"Radomski met Stanton around 2001, while he was pitching for the Yankees," according to the Mitchell Report. "Radomski recalled making two sales of human growth hormone to Stanton. The first occurred in 2003, during Stanton's first season with the Mets. Early in that season, Radomski mailed two kits of human growth hormone to Stanton at his residence. Stanton paid Radomski $3,200 by money order."

The report continued: "Radomski stated that he dropped off one kit of human growth hormone at Stanton's locker in the Mets clubhouse later in the 2003 season. Stanton paid $1,600 in cash for that order. Radomski and Stanton spoke on the telephone two or three times in the course of these sales."

Like most active players, Stanton did not agree to meet with Mitchell's investigators during the 21-month investigation. The pitcher said that he was notified by a union attorney that Mitchell might have something about him.

"I was contacted in the summer that my name came up," Stanton said. "I had no idea in what capacity. The next thing was today."

Stanton, 40, signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Reds on Nov. 20, 2006. The free-agent deal came with a $2.5 million vesting option for 2009. In 69 relief appearances last season, Stanton was 1-3 with a 5.93 ERA in 57 2/3 innings.

A respected veteran and once one of the premier relievers in baseball, Stanton has pitched in 11 postseasons and owns three World Series championship rings. He fears that being linked to the Mitchell Report could taint his reputation.

"It's definitely embarrassing," he said. "There's a little anger and frustration. I have no idea who this guy was. I've been looking for a picture of him on television."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.